Laundry treating appliance with load surface area detection

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a laundry treating appliance and method for controlling the operation of the laundry treating appliance by determining the surface area of the laundry based on image data of the laundry.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/671,472, filed Nov. 1, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,124,916,issued Sep. 21, 2021 which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/657,672, filed Jul. 24, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,472,760,issued Nov. 12, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/388,584 filed Feb. 19, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,745,688,issued Aug. 29, 2017, all of which are incorporated herein by referencein their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Laundry treating appliances, such as clothes washers, clothes dryers,refreshers, and non-aqueous systems, may have a configuration based on arotating drum that defines a treating chamber in which laundry items areplaced for treating. The laundry treating appliance may have acontroller that implements a number of pre-programmed cycles ofoperation. The user typically manually selects the cycle of operationfrom the given pre-programmed cycles. Each pre-programmed cycle may haveany number of adjustable parameters, which may be input by the user ormay be set by the controller. The controller may set the parameteraccording to default values, predetermined values, or responsive toconditions within the treating chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for operating alaundry treating appliance, the method comprising generating image datarepresentative of laundry in a treating chamber, determining a surfacearea of the laundry and/or a number of items from the image data, andsetting at least one of a parameter or controlling a treating cycle ofoperation based on surface area of the laundry and/or the number ofitems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a laundry treating appliance inthe form of a clothes dryer with a treating chamber according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the dryer of FIG. 1 withportions of the cabinet removed for clarity according to one embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 3 is second partial perspective view of the dryer of FIG. 1 withportions of the cabinet removed for clarity according to one embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional, schematic side view of the dryer similar toFIG. 1 having an imaging system for imaging the treating chamber thedryer according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a controller for controlling theoperation of one or more components of the clothes dryer of FIG. 1according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method for determining the surfacearea of laundry in a clothes dryer and controlling the operation of theclothes dryer in accordance with the determined surface area accordingto a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a first captured image of thelaundry according to the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a second captured image of thelaundry according to the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for imageanalysis of a captured image according to yet another embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a laundry treating appliance in theform of a clothes dryer 10 according to the invention. While the laundrytreating appliance 10 is illustrated as a clothes dryer 10, the laundrytreating appliance according to the invention may be any appliance whichperforms a cycle of operation on laundry, non-limiting examples of whichinclude a horizontal or vertical axis clothes washer; a combinationwashing machine and dryer; a tumbling or stationaryrefreshing/revitalizing machine; an extractor; a non-aqueous washingapparatus; and a revitalizing machine. The clothes dryer 10 describedherein shares many features of a traditional automatic clothes dryer,which will not be described in detail except as necessary for a completeunderstanding of the invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the clothes dryer 10 may comprises a cabinet12 in which is provided a controller 14 that may receive input from auser through a user interface 16 for selecting a cycle of operation andcontrolling the operation of the clothes dryer 10 to implement theselected cycle of operation.

The cabinet 12 may be defined by a front wall 18, a rear wall 20, and apair of side walls 22 supporting a top wall 24. A door 26 may behingedly mounted to the front wall 18 and may be selectively moveablebetween opened and closed positions to close an opening in the frontwall 18, which provides access to the interior of the cabinet.

A rotatable drum 28 may be disposed within the interior of the cabinet12 between opposing stationary rear and front bulkheads 30 and 32, whichcollectively define a treating chamber 34, for treating laundry, havingan open face that may be selectively closed by the door 26. Examples oflaundry include, but are not limited to, a hat, a scarf, a glove, asweater, a blouse, a shirt, a pair of shorts, a dress, a sock, a pair ofpants, a shoe, an undergarment, and a jacket. Furthermore, textilefabrics in other products, such as draperies, sheets, towels, pillows,and stuffed fabric articles (e.g., toys), may be dried in the clothesdryer 10.

The drum 28 may include at least one lifter 36. In most dryers, thereare multiple lifters. The lifters 36 may be located along the innersurface of the drum 28 defining an interior circumference of the drum28. The lifters 36 facilitate movement of the laundry within the drum 28as the drum 28 rotates.

Still referring to FIG. 2 , an air flow system for the clothes dryer 10according to one embodiment of the invention will now be described. Theair flow system supplies air to the treating chamber 34 and thenexhausts air from the treating chamber 34. The supplied air may beheated or not. The air flow system may have an air supply portion thatmay be formed in part by an inlet conduit 38, which has one end open tothe ambient air and another end fluidly coupled to an inlet grill 40,which may be in fluid communication with the treating chamber 34. Aheating element 42 may lie within the inlet conduit 38 and may beoperably coupled to and controlled by the controller 14. If the heatingelement 42 is turned on, the supplied air will be heated prior toentering the drum 28.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the air supply system may further include an airexhaust portion that may be formed in part by an exhaust conduit 44 andlint trap 45, which are fluidly coupled by a blower 46. The blower 46may be operably coupled to and controlled by the controller 14.Operation of the blower 46 draws air into the treating chamber 34 aswell as exhausts air from the treating chamber 34 through the exhaustconduit 44. The exhaust conduit 44 may be fluidly coupled with ahousehold exhaust duct 47 or exhausting the air from the drying chamberto the outside.

Referring now to FIG. 4 , the clothes dryer 10 may optionally have adispensing system 48 for dispensing treating chemistries, includingwithout limitation water or steam, into the treating chamber 34, andthus may be considered to be a dispensing dryer. The dispensing system48 may include a reservoir 54 capable of holding treating chemistry anda dispenser 50 that fluidly couples with the reservoir 54 through adispensing line 58. The treating chemistry may be delivered to thedispenser 50 from the reservoir 54 and the dispenser 50 may dispense thechemistry into the treating chamber 34. The dispenser 50 may bepositioned to direct the treating chemistry at the inner surface of thedrum 28 so that laundry may contact and absorb the chemistry, or todispense the chemistry directly onto the laundry in the treating chamber34. The type of dispenser 50 is not germane to the invention. Achemistry meter 52 may electronically couple, wired or wirelessly, tothe controller 14 to control the amount of treating chemistry dispensed.

As is typical in a clothes dryer, the drum 28 may be rotated by asuitable drive mechanism, which is illustrated as a motor 64 and acoupled belt 66. The motor 64 may be operably coupled to the controller14 to control the rotation of the drum 28 to complete a cycle ofoperation. Other drive mechanisms, such as direct drive, may also beused.

The clothes dryer 10 may also have an imaging device 70 to image thetreating chamber 34 and/or anything within the treating chamber 34.Exemplary imaging devices 70 may include any optical sensor capable ofcapturing still or moving images, such as a camera. One suitable type ofcamera is a CMOS camera. Other exemplary imaging devices include a CCDcamera, a digital camera, a video camera, or any other type of devicecapable of capturing an image. That camera may capture either or bothvisible and non-visible radiation. For example, the camera may capturean image using visible light. In another example, the camera may capturean image using non-visible light, such as ultraviolet light. In yetanother example, the camera may be a thermal imaging device capable ofdetecting radiation in the infrared region of the electromagneticspectrum. The imaging device 70 may be located on either of the rear orfront bulkhead 30, 32 or in the door 26. It may be readily understoodthat the location of the imaging device 70 may be in numerous otherlocations depending on the particular structure of the dryer and thedesired position for obtaining an image. The location of the imagingdevice may depend on the type of desired image, the area of interestwithin the treating chamber 34, or whether the image is to be capturedwith the drum in motion. For example, if the drum is to be stoppedduring imaging and the laundry load is of interest, the imaging device70 is positioned so that its field of view includes the bottom of thedrum 28. If the imaging is done while the drum is moving and the motionof the laundry is important, the imaging device 70 is positioned so thatits field of view includes the side and center of the drum 28 so thatthe laundry can be imaged as it is lifted and tumbled. The imagingdevice may also be placed such that the entire or substantially theentire treating chamber is within the filed of view of the imagingdevice. There may also be multiple imaging devices, which may imagingthe same or different areas of the treating chamber 34.

The clothes dryer 10 may also have an illumination source 72. The typeof illumination source 72 may vary. In one configuration, theillumination source 72 may be a typical incandescent dryer light whichis commonly used to illuminate the treating chamber 34. Alternatively,one or more LED lights may be used in place of an incandescent bulb. Theillumination source 72 may also be located behind the rear bulkhead 30of the drum 28 such that the light shines through the holes of the airinlet grill 40. It is also within the scope of the invention for theclothes dryer 10 to have more than one illumination source 72. Forexample, an array of LED lights may be placed at multiple positions ineither bulkhead 30, 32.

The illumination source 72 can be located on the same side of the drum28 as the imaging device 70, as illustrated in FIG. 4 , or located on adifferent side of the drum 28. When the illumination source 72 islocated on the same side of the drum 28 as the imaging device 70, theimaging device 70 may detect the light that may be reflected by the drum28 and the laundry load. Image analysis may then be used to isolate thedrum 28 from the laundry load. When the illumination source 72 islocated on a side of the drum 28 opposite the imaging device 70, theimaging device 70 detects only the light from the illumination source 72that is not blocked by the laundry load. At any instant in time, a givenlocation in an image will be dark or light depending on whether or notlaundry is present at that location.

The illumination generated by the illumination source may vary, and maywell be dependent on the type of imaging device. For example,illumination may be infrared if the imaging device is configured toimage the infrared spectrum. Similarly, the illumination may be visiblelight, if the imaging device is configured to image the visiblespectrum.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 , the controller 14 may be provided with amemory 80 and a central processing unit (CPU) 82. The memory 80 may beused for storing the control software that is executed by the CPU 82 incompleting a cycle of operation using the clothes dryer 10 and anyadditional software. The memory 80 may also be used to storeinformation, such as a database or table, and to store data receivedfrom the one or more components of the clothes dryer 10 that may becommunicably coupled with the controller 14.

The controller 14 may be communicably and/or operably coupled with oneor more components of the clothes dryer 10 for communicating with andcontrolling the operation of the component to complete a cycle ofoperation. For example, the controller 14 may be coupled with theheating element 42 and the blower 46 for controlling the temperature andflow rate through the treatment chamber 34; the motor 64 for controllingthe direction and speed of rotation of the drum 28; and the dispensingsystem 48 for dispensing a treatment chemistry during a cycle ofoperation. The controller 14 may also be coupled with the user interface16 for receiving user selected inputs and communicating information tothe user.

The controller 14 may also receive input from various sensors 84, whichare known in the art and not shown for simplicity. Non-limiting examplesof sensors 84 that may be communicably coupled with the controller 14include: a treating chamber temperature sensor, an inlet air temperaturesensor, an exhaust air temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, an airflow rate sensor, a weight sensor, and a motor torque sensor.

The controller 14 may also be coupled with the imaging device 70 andillumination source 72 to capture one or more images of the treatingchamber 34. The captured images may be sent to the controller 14 andanalyzed using analysis software stored in the controller memory 80 todetermine the surface area of laundry in the treating chamber 34. Thecontroller 14 may use the determined surface area to set one or moreoperating parameters to control the operation of at least one componentwith which the controller 14 is operably coupled to complete a cycle ofoperation.

The previously described clothes dryer 10 provides the structurenecessary for the implementation of the method of the invention. Severalembodiments of the method will now be described in terms of theoperation of the clothes dryer 10. The embodiments of the methodfunction to automatically determine the surface area of laundry andcontrol the operation of the clothes dryer 10 based on the determinedsurface area.

The surface area of laundry in the treating chamber 34 may be determinedby using the imaging device 70 to obtain one or more images over time ofthe contents of the drum 28 as it is rotating or as it is static. Theone or more images can be taken as the drum 28 is being loaded withlaundry, or when the laundry load is completed loaded into the drum 28.For some determinations, a single image is all that needs to beanalyzed. For other determinations, multiple images over time may needto be analyzed. The surface area of laundry in the treating chamber 34may then be used to control the operation of the clothes dryer 10.

Controlling the operation of the clothes dryer 10 based on the surfacearea of laundry in the treating chamber 34 may include setting at leastone parameter of a cycle of operation including a rotational speed ofthe drum 28, a direction of rotation of the drum 28, a temperature inthe treating chamber 34, an air flow through the treating chamber 34, atype of treating chemistry, an amount of treating chemistry, a start orend of cycle condition and a start or end cycle step condition.

Setting a start or end of cycle condition may include determining whento start or end a cycle of operation. This may include signaling thecontroller 14 to immediately start or end a cycle of operation orsetting a time at which to start or end a cycle of operation.

Setting a start or end of cycle step condition may include determiningwhen to start a step within a given operating cycle or when to end astep within a given operating cycle. This may include signaling thecontroller 14 to immediately transition from one cycle step to anotheror setting a time at which to transition from one step to another withina given operating cycle. Examples of cycle steps include rotation withheated air, rotation without heated air, treatment dispensing, and awrinkle guard step.

For laundry treating appliances other than clothes dryers, parameters ofa cycle of operation that may be set based on the determined motionstate may also include a rotational speed of an agitator, a direction ofagitator rotation, and a wash liquid fill level.

Referring to FIG. 6 , a flow chart of one method 100 of determining thesurface area of laundry and controlling the operation of the clothesdryer in accordance with the determined surface area is shown inaccordance with the present invention. The sequence of steps depicted isfor illustrative purposes only, and is not meant to limit the method 100in any way as it is understood that the steps may proceed in a differentlogical order, additional or intervening steps may be included, ordescribed steps may be divided into multiple steps, without detractingfrom the invention.

The method 100 may be executed by the controller 14 during a drying ortreatment cycle of the clothes dryer 10. The method 100 may start atstep 102 while the user is loading the clothes dryer 10 with one or morearticles to form the laundry load, or when the laundry load is loadedinto the clothes dryer 10. The method 100 may be initiated automaticallywhen the user opens or closes the door 26, or at the start of a userselected operating cycle. Step 104 is an optional step in which thecontroller 14 obtains an initial image of the laundry load withoutrotation of the drum. The initial image may be used to determine loadparameters such as the volume, size, color, or fabric type of the load,all of which may be used to set various parameters of the cycle.

In the next step 106, the image count of a counter, which tracks thenumber of images taken, is set to 0. Ultimately, the number of imagescounted by the counter may be used to determine when to terminate theimaging of the laundry.

Rotation of the drum is initiated at step 108. The speed of rotation ofthe drum 28 may be increased until it reaches a predetermined speed ofrotation. The predetermined speed of rotation may be determined by thecontroller 14 based on the selected operating cycle and the operatingparameter settings. For example, the predetermined speed of rotation maybe selected such that it enhances the movement of laundry to optimizethe surface area exposure or separation between individual laundryitems.

When the drum speed reaches the predetermined speed, the image time maybe set to 0 at step 110, and the imaging device 70 may capture an imageof all or some portion of the treating chamber 34 at step 112.Alternatively, the image time may be set to 0 in step 110 after apredetermined amount of time has elapsed or after a predetermined stepin a cycle of operation.

In step 114, the captured image undergoes image analysis. The capturedimage may be sent to the controller 14 for image analysis using softwarethat is stored in the memory 80 of the controller 14. It is also withinthe scope of the invention for the imaging device 70 to have a memoryand a microprocessor for storing information and software and executingthe software, respectively. In this manner, the imaging device 70 mayanalyze the captured image data and communicate the results of theanalysis with the controller 14.

In one exemplary type of image analysis, the load image is isolated fromthe background, i.e. the dryer drum 28, for the captured image.Regardless of how the load image is isolated from the background, theload image may be used to obtain information relating to the color,size, shape, and location of the laundry load within the drum 28. Forexample, the load image may be used to calculate the area, perimeter,center of mass, radius, and major or minor axis of the load using knownmethods. In the present method 100, the load image is used to determinethe surface area of the laundry, and may also be used to determine thenumber of individual items of laundry in the load. There are manysuitable ways to determine the surface area of the laundry and thenumber of individual items of laundry in the load, examples of whichwill be detailed below.

In the next step 120, the controller 14 determines if the image countequals the target count. If the image count is less than the targetcount, the image count is increased by 1 in step 122. In step 124, thetime elapsed since capturing the last image is monitored. Once theelapsed time is equal to or greater than one divided by the imagingrate, the method returns to step 112, and steps 112 through 120 arerepeated.

The image count is selected such that a sufficient number of images maybe captured and analyzed to determine the surface area of laundry. Theimage rate is selected such that a predetermined number of images may becaptured within a predetermined amount of time, and may be set based onempirical data on the amount of time needed to accurately determine thesurface area of laundry.

If the image count equals the target count, then the surface area of thelaundry is determined in step 126 by using the results of the imageanalysis performed in step 114. Optionally in step 126, the number ofindividual items in the load is determined as well. From the determinedsurface area, and optionally also from the number of items, at least oneparameter of a cyclone of operation is set in step 128 to control theoperation of the clothes dryer 10.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustrating an example of a first captured image150 depicting a load 152 against a background 154, i.e. the drum 28,that may be captured according to step 112 of the method 100 illustratedin FIG. 6 . The image 150 is a schematic representation of atwo-dimensional projection of the field of view of the imaging device70, which will vary depending on the location of the imaging device 70.The load 152 may be formed from one or more individual laundry items ofvarious size and shape. For simplicity of explanation, the load 152consists of a first laundry item 156 and a second laundry item 158.

FIG. 8 illustrates a second captured image 160 of the load 152 againstthe background 154, i.e. the drum 28, that may be captured according tostep 112 of the method 100 illustrated in FIG. 6 at some point in timeafter the image 150. As illustrated, the items 156, 158 may have shiftedas compared with the first image 150, exposing more or less of theirsurface area to the imaging device 70. While not illustrated herein,different images may also expose a greater or fewer number of laundryitems to the imaging device 70.

Referring to FIG. 9 , a flow chart of one exemplary method 130 for imageanalysis is shown in accordance with the present invention. The method130 may be executed by the controller 14 during step 114 of method 100shown in FIG. 6 . The sequence of steps depicted is for illustrativepurposes only, and is not meant to limit the method 130 in any way as itis understood that the steps may proceed in a different logical order,additional or intervening steps may be included, or described steps maybe divided into multiple steps, without detracting from the invention.In several instances, the method 130 is described with reference to thefirst and second images 150, 160 (FIGS. 7 and 8 ) for purposes ofillustration. While only two images 150, 160 are shown herein, it isunderstood that more or less images could be analyzed to determine thesurface area of the laundry.

Method 130 begins with step 132, in which the load 152 is isolated fromthe background 154. There are several methods for separating the loadfrom the background depending on the illumination configuration, drumproperties, and the load. For example, in the case of an illuminationconfiguration where the illumination source 72 is located on the sameside of the drum 28 as the imaging device 70 (FIG. 4 ), techniques suchas edge detection, color segmentation, and deviation from a knownbackground image may be used to isolate the load from the background.Edge detection may be calculated using known methods. Color segmentationinvolves separating the load from the background based on differences inthe saturation, hue, and/or luminance of objects in the image. Deviationfrom a known background image may require the surface of the dryer drum28 to have optically detectable features to aid in the separation of theload from the background image of the drum 28.

In step 134, once the load 152 is isolated from the background 154, theload image is analyzed to obtain information about the individual items156, 158 in the load. Useful information for determining surface areamay include a two dimensional (2D) area value or a color signature ofeach item 156, 158 in each image 150, 160. Useful information fordetermining the number of individual items in the load 152 may include acount of different items in each image 150, 160. Note that the count ofdifferent items in each image is not the same as the number ofindividual items in the load, since some items may be hidden from thefield of view in certain images, or may be partially obstructed and mayappear as more than one item.

There are several ways in which a 2D area value of each item 156, 158may be obtained from the load image. In one embodiment, the load imagemay be analyzed by dividing the image 150 into multiple segments tocreate a grid composed of multiple grid elements overlying the image150. The location, number, shape, and size of the grid elements may varydepending on a variety of factors, including, without limitation, theshape of the image 150, the shape of the drum 28 and the location of theimaging device 70. It is within the scope of the invention for the image150 and applied grid to have any regular or irregular shape. Each gridelement can be assigned a percent coverage value or a color value, whichmay be used to glean information about the surface area of the items.

The grid may be a related to a naturally occurring structure in theimaging system, such as the grid formed by the pixels of a sensor forthe imaging device 70. Alternatively, it may be represented by the datapoints forming the image 150, 160, which may be thought of as pixels ofthe image. In most digital images, the image is comprised of a series ofpixels arranged in rows and columns. Whether the sensor pixels or imagepixels are used to form the grid, each grid element may be formed by oneor a more pixels.

One benefit of using a grid in conjunction with an imaging device 70that is a CCD or CMOS camera is that the CCD or CMOS cameras have asensor comprising multiple pixels, which form a grid-like structure. Asingle pixel or a grouping of pixels may be used to form a grid element.

Another embodiment may involve using edge detection to determine a colorfor an individual item within the edge, assigning a color signature orvalue to the individual item, and then tracking it in subsequent imagesby its assigned color signature. This may be especially efficient forloads having multiple items of different colors. For each tracked item156, 158 in the image 150 a 2D area value can be determined. This can berepeated for the subsequent image 160.

The color signature may be one or a grouping of numerical values thatrepresent a specific color. Most color-based imaging systems use one ofseveral standardized color spaces. For example, RGB (Red, Green, Blue)is a well known color space where are of the colors are represented by anumerical value for the red, blue, and green components for the color.Thus, any color may be uniquely identified with three numerical values.Similar system may be used for grayscales if color is not an issue.Items having more than one color, such as stripes, may have a colorsignature that is an average or weighted-average of the observed colors.Regardless of what system is used, a unique color signature may becreated for each item of the same color.

There are several ways in which a count of different items may beobtained from the load image. In one embodiment, individual items 156,158 in the load 152 may be detected using edge detection methods, or maybe detected or based on the known properties of an interior surface ofthe drum 28 which makes up the background 154. In another embodiment, acolor segmentation filter may be applied to the load image to isolatethe individual items 156, 158 in the load 152 from each other based ondifferences in the saturation, hue and/or luminance of objects in theimage. For example, each pixel in the images 150, 160 may be representedby one or more numerical values indicative of the color of the images150, 160 at that pixel. The items 156, 158 of the load 152 may beidentified based on the difference in pixel values between the load itemand the known pixel values of the interior surface of the drum 28.

In step 136, information on the surface area and the number ofindividual items in the load is extracted from the load image analysisand stored. The information may be stored in the memory associated withthe imaging device 70 or with the controller 14.

In step 138, the controller 14 determines if more information about theindividual items in the load needed. If more information is needed, themethod 130 returns to step 134, and steps 134-138 are repeated. Once itis determined in step 138 that enough information about the individualitems in the load has been gathered, the method moves on to step 140.

In step 140, the surface area and the number of individual items in theload is estimated from the information stored in step 136. Step 140 maycoincide with step 122 of method 100 (FIG. 6 ). The surface area of theload may be estimated from the averaged 2D area value, which mayapproximate the surface area with good accuracy depending on thepositioning of the imaging device 70. Alternately, to get a moreaccurate estimation of the surface area, the averaged 2D area value maybe correlated with empirical data relating such 2D area values to actualsurface area. Another method of obtaining a surface area for aparticular item is to sum the number of pixels of the same colorsignature. The greater the number of pixels, the relatively greater willbe the surface area. This method will still be effective even if theload is of a single color, such as all whites, as the surface area willbe a surface area for the entire laundry load, which could be treated asan effective single item. The number of individual items in the load maybe estimated from averaging the count of different items for each image.The estimations may be used to set at least one parameter of a cycle ofoperation for the clothes dryer 10 as described above.

Depending on the determined surface area and the number of individualitems in the load, a cycle of operation of the clothes dryer 10 may beautomatically adapted for optimum drying performance. This can providebetter fabric care since the exposure of the laundry load to parametersof the cycle of operation such as heat and treating chemistry is limitedto the amounted needed for optimum drying. Furthermore, the clothesdryer 10 may be more energy efficient since parameters of the cycle ofoperation are optimized.

The methods 100, 130 disclosed herein may have the greatest utility forsmall load sizes rather than for larger load sizes. For small loads oflaundry, individual items may be physically separated from each other infree movement during rotation, which makes it easier to accuratelydetermine the number of items and the surface area of the load.

Furthermore, changes in cycle parameters may have a greater relativeeffect on small loads as compared with the effect on larger loads. Formost laundry treating appliances, the user must manually select a cycleof operation from the given pre-programmed cycles. In the case of adispensing dryer, if the user chooses an inappropriate cycle ofoperation for a load of laundry, an inappropriate amount of treatingchemistry may be dispensed. Dispensing an inappropriate amount oftreating chemistry can result in overspray of wash liquid, which leadsto long drying times or wash liquid breach, or underspray, which resultsin no perceived benefit to the laundry. Avoiding overspray andunderspray becomes especially difficult for smaller loads of laundry,since changes in the amount of treating chemistry has a greater relativeeffect.

While the invention has been specifically described in connection withcertain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that thisis by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variationand modification are possible within the scope of the forgoingdisclosure and drawings without departing from the spirit of theinvention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for operating a laundry treatingappliance, the method comprising: generating image data, wherein theimage data is representative of laundry in a treating chamber;determining a surface area of the laundry and/or a number of items fromthe image data; and setting at least one of a parameter or controlling atreating cycle of operation based on the surface area of the laundryand/or the number of items.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein controllingthe treating cycle of operation comprises automatically selecting thetreating cycle of operation based on the surface area of the laundryand/or the number of items.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein setting theparameter comprises setting multiple parameters based on the surfacearea of the laundry and/or the number of items.
 4. The method of claim 3wherein the multiple parameters include at least two of: a rotationalspeed of a drum, a direction of drum rotation, a temperature in thetreating chamber, an air flow through the treating chamber, a type oftreating chemistry, an amount of treating chemistry, a start of cyclecondition, an end of cycle condition, a start of cycle step condition,an end of cycle step condition, and a wash liquid fill level.
 5. Themethod of claim 1 wherein both the parameter is set and the treatingcycle of operation is controlled based on the surface area of thelaundry and/or the number of items.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein theparameter is one of a temperature in the treating chamber, an air flowthrough the treating chamber, a start of cycle condition, an end ofcycle condition, a start of cycle step condition, an end of cycle stepcondition, a rotational speed of an agitator, a direction of agitatorrotation, or a wash liquid fill level.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising a dispensing system configured to dispense a treatingchemistry into the treating chamber.
 8. The method of claim 7 whereinsetting the parameter comprises setting at least one of a type and anamount of the treating chemistry based on the surface area of thelaundry and/or a number of items.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein boththe type and the amount of the treating chemistry is selected based onthe surface area of the laundry and/or the number of items.
 10. Themethod of claim 1 wherein generating the image data comprises capturingat least one image of a portion of the treating chamber.
 11. The methodof claim 1 wherein determining the surface area comprises analyzing theimage data by separating the laundry from a background in the imagedata.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the surface areacomprises separating individual items of laundry from each other basedon differences in at least one of saturation, hue, or luminance.
 13. Themethod of claim 1 wherein generating the image data comprises taking atleast one of a still image or a moving image.
 14. The method of claim 1wherein generating the image data comprises capturing a digital image.15. The method of claim 1 wherein the treating chamber is a rotatabletreating chamber.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein setting theparameter comprises setting at least one of a rotational speed or adirection of rotation.
 17. The method of claim 15 wherein generating theimage data comprises generating image data during rotating of therotatable treating chamber.
 18. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising an agitator located within the treating chamber.
 19. Themethod of claim 18 wherein setting the parameter comprises setting atleast one of a rotational speed of the agitator or a direction ofagitator rotation.
 20. The method of claim 18 wherein generating theimage data comprises generating the image data during operation of theagitator.